Watts Water Technologies, Inc.
Climate Impact & Sustainability Data (2021, 2022, 2023)
Reporting Period: 2021
Environmental Metrics
ESG Focus Areas
- Climate change
- Water stewardship
- Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)
- Employee well-being
- Supply chain responsibility
- Corporate governance
- Data security and privacy
- Sustainable innovation
- Energy and emissions
- Waste reduction
Environmental Achievements
- Exceeded waste, energy, and water intensity reduction targets (43% GHG intensity reduction, 56% water intensity reduction, 9.78% hazardous waste intensity reduction)
- Purchased 100% certified renewable energy credits (RECs) to offset annual electric consumption at seven U.S. sites, reducing carbon emissions by 20%
- Achieved ISO 14001 certification at 13 sites (52% of global manufacturing footprint)
Social Achievements
- Achieved zero recordable injuries at 13 sites
- Hosted dozens of on-site COVID-19 vaccination clinics and provided U.S. employees paid time off for vaccination
- Provided clean, safe drinking water for 10,000+ people through partnership with Planet Water Foundation
- Implemented a strategic DEI plan with goals for 2022
- Adjusted wages for hourly employees in the U.S. and Europe
- Piloted hybrid work practices at corporate headquarters
Governance Achievements
- Appointed a Chief Sustainability Officer
- Renamed Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee to Governance and Sustainability Committee
- Improved supply chain responsibility through enhanced due diligence and supplier audits
- Achieved 99% employee completion rate for Code of Business Conduct training
- No confirmed incidents of corruption or legal actions related to corruption or anti-competitive behavior
Climate Goals & Targets
- Derive 25% of revenue from smart and connected solutions by 2023/24
- Reduce water intensity by 3% annually
- Reduce GHG emissions intensity by 3% annually
Environmental Challenges
- Supply chain disruptions
- Inflationary pressures
- Global water scarcity and contamination
- Climate change impacts (extreme weather, water scarcity)
- COVID-19 pandemic
Mitigation Strategies
- Developed alternative sourcing strategies
- Implemented water stewardship programs at eight sites
- Purchased RECs to offset emissions
- Improved business continuity planning
- Hosted COVID-19 vaccination clinics and provided paid time off for vaccination
Supply Chain Management
Supplier Audits: 701 suppliers audited (30% of global supplier footprint)
Responsible Procurement
- Supplier Quality Manual
- Code of Business Conduct
- Supplier ESG Standards
- Anti-Corruption Policy
- Global Anti-Human Trafficking Policy
- Conflict Minerals Policy
Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities
Physical Risks
- Extreme weather
- Water scarcity
Opportunities
- Development of energy-efficient products
Reporting Standards
Frameworks Used: GRI Standards: Core Option, SASB, UN Global Compact (joined in 2022), UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
Certifications: ISO 14001, ISO 45001
Third-party Assurance: Lucideon CICS Limited (limited assurance for environmental data)
UN Sustainable Development Goals
- SDG 5: Gender Equality
- SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
- SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
- SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
- SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
- SDG 13: Climate Action
- SDG 14: Life Below Water
Watts' products and initiatives contribute to these goals through water conservation, energy efficiency, sustainable manufacturing practices, DEI initiatives, and community engagement
Sustainable Products & Innovation
- Smart and connected products (IntelliStation®, IntelliFlow®)
- Energy-efficient boilers and water heaters (AERCO®, PVI®)
- Water conservation products (ZeroWaste® RO System, BLÜCHER HygienicPro® drains)
- Leak detection systems
Awards & Recognition
- Newsweek's America's Most Responsible Companies (three years in a row)
Reporting Period: 2022
Environmental Metrics
ESG Focus Areas
- Climate Change
- Water Stewardship
- Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
- Occupational Health and Safety
- Responsible Supply Chain
- Ethics and Compliance
Environmental Achievements
- Reduced GHG emissions intensity by 33% (location-based) and 45% (market-based) since 2018 (vs. 12% goal)
- Reduced water intensity by 62% since 2018 (vs. 12% goal)
- Reduced hazardous waste intensity by 12% since 2018 (vs. 12% goal)
- Became the first company to be verified by The Water Council’s WAVE: Water Stewardship Verified program
Social Achievements
- Launched global, multi-year leadership and inclusivity training for all employees
- Achieved zero recordable injuries at 14 operating and distribution sites
- Improved total recordable incident rate (TRIR) by 13% and lost time rate (LTIR) by 7% year-over-year
- Provided clean, safe drinking water to over 10,000 people
Governance Achievements
- Completed a global survey of the compliance program showing overwhelming employee belief in adherence to the Code of Conduct
- Implemented a formal Human Rights Policy
- Increased the number of suppliers participating in sustainability audits by 14%
Climate Goals & Targets
- Reduce water consumption by 3% annually
- Reduce GHG emissions intensity by 3% annually
- Achieve 25% of revenue from smart and connected enabled products by end of 2023
Environmental Challenges
- Significant inflation and supply chain disruptions
- Ongoing war in Ukraine contributing to energy-supply concerns and increased energy costs
- Increased hazardous waste generation due to the Franklin, NH foundry decommissioning project
Mitigation Strategies
- Developed alternative sourcing strategies
- Implemented efficient solutions and adopted an emissions-reduction mindset
- Purchased renewable energy credits (RECs) to offset emissions
- Implemented various measures to reduce heating demand through natural gas
Supply Chain Management
Supplier Audits: 826 suppliers audited in 2022 (29% of global supplier footprint)
Responsible Procurement
- Supplier Quality Manual
- Code of Business Conduct
- Supplier ESG Standards
- Anti-corruption Policy
- Global Anti-Human Trafficking Policy
- Conflict Minerals Policy
Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities
Physical Risks
- Severe weather events
- Increased scarcity of natural resources
Opportunities
- Development of energy-efficient products
Reporting Standards
Frameworks Used: GRI, SASB, UNGC, CEO Water Mandate
Certifications: ISO 14001, ISO 45001
Third-party Assurance: Lucideon (limited assurance for environmental data)
UN Sustainable Development Goals
- SDG 5
- SDG 6
- SDG 8
- SDG 9
- SDG 12
- SDG 13
- SDG 14
Details provided in the SDG Index section of the Appendix.
Sustainable Products & Innovation
- Smart and connected enabled products
- High-efficiency boilers and water heaters
- Lead-free products
- Backflow prevention valves
- Water filtration systems
- Leak detection systems
Awards & Recognition
- Newsweek’s Most Responsible Companies (four consecutive years)
Reporting Period: 2023
Environmental Metrics
ESG Focus Areas
- Employee Attraction, Development, and Retention
- Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)
- Occupational Health and Safety
- Energy and Emissions
- Sustainable Innovation and Digital Transformation
- Climate Change Risk and Resilience
- Water Stewardship
- Ethics, Integrity, and Transparency
- Governance and Accountability
- Responsible Supply Chain
Environmental Achievements
- 62% reduction in water use intensity since 2018 (vs. a goal of 15%)
- 60% reduction in Scope 1 & 2 GHG emissions intensity since 2018 (vs. a goal of 15%)
- 35% reduction in hazardous waste intensity since 2018 (vs. a goal of 15%)
- Installation of solar at four manufacturing facilities, generating ~700,000 kWh of electricity
- Purchase of ~7,200 metric tons of CO2 equivalent (MTCO2e) certified wind RECs (representing 47% of market-based emissions)
Social Achievements
- Headquarters named one of the Top Places to Work by The Boston Globe
- Provided clean drinking water to nearly 15,000 children and community members through partnership with Planet Water Foundation
- Commitment to donate up to $1 million to water-related nonprofits from 2024-2027
- Improved safety performance with a TRIR of 0.92 and LTIR of 0.49 (improvements of 21% and 6% year-over-year, respectively)
- Launched a quarterly training and development calendar
Governance Achievements
- 99% of employees completed Code of Business Conduct training
- Enhanced supply chain visibility through engagement with top 100 suppliers using EcoVadis
- No confirmed incidents of corruption
Climate Goals & Targets
- Reduce absolute GHG emissions by 30% by 2034
- Begin reporting on Scope 3 emissions in 2026
- Reduce hazardous waste intensity by 3% annually through 2026
- Reduce water intensity by 3% annually through 2026
- Complete LCAs for all products in largest facility by 2025
- Complete LCAs for all products in BLÜCHER facility by 2025
- Offer leadership and inclusivity training to all employees globally by the end of 2025
- Complete 50 EPDs by 2026
Environmental Challenges
- Supply chain disruptions
- Increased energy costs
- Global water crisis
- Climate change impacts
Mitigation Strategies
- Reduced dependence on sole sources and prioritized local sourcing
- Implemented energy efficiency measures (air leak detection, on-site solar, LEDs)
- Purchased RECs
- Developed alternative sourcing strategies
- Committed to new decarbonization goals (30% absolute reduction in Scope 1 & 2 emissions by 2034)
Supply Chain Management
Supplier Audits: 1,075/year (22% of global direct spend)
Responsible Procurement
- Code of Business Conduct
- Supplier ESG Standards
- Dun & Bradstreet ESG Rating Service
- EcoVadis
Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities
Physical Risks
- Extreme weather events
- Increased scarcity of natural resources
Transition Risks
- Legislation and regulation around natural gas use
Opportunities
- Development of energy-efficient products
- Electrification
Reporting Standards
Frameworks Used: GRI, SASB, UNGC, CEO Water Mandate
Certifications: ISO 14001, ISO 45001
Third-party Assurance: Lucideon
UN Sustainable Development Goals
- SDG 5
- SDG 6
- SDG 8
- SDG 9
- SDG 12
- SDG 13
- SDG 14
Watts' strategy is aligned with these SDGs through various initiatives detailed in the report.
Sustainable Products & Innovation
- Electrically powered water heating products
- Smart and connected enabled products
Awards & Recognition
- America’s Most Responsible Companies (Newsweek)
- America’s Greenest Companies (Newsweek)
- America’s Climate Leaders (USA Today)